family encodes three transcription raetors known to be important in the regulation or gene expression in liver and lung. We have eloned and cbaracterized the mouse genes and cDNAs for HNF-3o:, {J, snd "y and analyzed their expression patterns in various adult tissues aod mouse embryonie stages. Tbe HNF-3 proteins are highly conserved bctween mou...

family encodes three transcription raetors known to be important in the regulation or gene expression in liver and lung. We have eloned and cbaracterized the mouse genes and cDNAs for HNF-3o:, {J, snd "y and analyzed their expression patterns in various adult tissues aod mouse embryonie stages. Tbe HNF-3 proteins are highly conserved bctween mouse and rat, with the exception oe the amino terminus or HNF-3'Y, which in mouse is more similar to those of HNF-30: and fJ than to the amino termini of tbe rat HNF-3" ( protein. The mouse HNF-3 genes are small and contain only two or three (HNF-aß) exons with conserved intron-exon boundaries. The proximal promoter of tbe mouse HNF-3{J gene is remarkably similar to that of the previously cloned rat HNF-3ß gene, but is different from tbe promoters ofthe HNF-3a and 'Y genes. The mRNA distribution ofthe mouse HNF-3 genes was analyzed by quantitative RNase protection with gene-specific probes. Wbile HNF-3a and ß are restricted mainly to endoderm-derived tissues (lung, liver, stomaeh. and small intestine), HNF-3"Y is more extensively expressed, being present additionally in ovary, tesUs, heart, and adipose tissue, but missing from lung. Transeripts for HNF-3ß and a are detected most abundantly in midgestation Minimize

The winged helix transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 3γ (HNF3γ) is expressed in embryonic endoderm and its derivatives liver, pancreas, stomach, and intestine, as well as in testis and ovary. We have generated mice carrying an Hnf3g-lacZ fusion which deletes most of the HNF3γ coding sequence as well as 5.5 kb of 3′ flanking region. Mi...

The winged helix transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 3γ (HNF3γ) is expressed in embryonic endoderm and its derivatives liver, pancreas, stomach, and intestine, as well as in testis and ovary. We have generated mice carrying an Hnf3g-lacZ fusion which deletes most of the HNF3γ coding sequence as well as 5.5 kb of 3′ flanking region. Mice homozygous for the mutation are fertile, develop normally, and show no morphological defects. The mild phenotype change of the Hnf3g−/− mice can be explained in part by an upregulation of HNF3α and HNF3β in the liver of the mutant animals. Analysis of steady-state mRNA levels as well as transcription rates showed that levels of expression of several HNF3 target genes (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, transferrin, tyrosine aminotransferase) were reduced by 50 to 70%, indicating that HNF3γ is an important activator of these genes in vivo. Minimize